Show FRANK K BAKERMan BAKER BAKER- Proposals to modify the two hurdle races will confront confront confront con con- front the thc members of the state high school athletic b board ard when its members meet at the thc Hotel Utah Saturday Saturday Sat Sat- Saturday afternoon The recommendations come from the National Federation of High Schools and for once have some soine real merit Utah's scholastic leaders will be wise to give them thorough consid consid- Mostly revolutionary is the suggestion to reduce the low hurdle race from yards to an even ven yards ards II In Ir that event the first hurdle would be 18 yards from the starting mark markwith markwith markwith with 18 yards between each ensuing pair of hurdles instead of ol the present distance of 20 yards That would leave eave a yard 20 sprint print from the last hurdle to the tape Coach Stan Wilson Vilson of Pa Payson son whose Lions walked off with the state championship championship champion champion- 7 ship last year believes the change would be wise Some high school runners runners not not yet et as fully developed as the they will be when more mature mature find find the last four or five barriers a gruelling assignment Wilson ViI Wil ViI ViI- son soil points out When he grows wear weary from froni the strain the high school competitor has as to break v a his stride Wilson Vilson dc declares l res He throws c I in one or two like chop steps to carry him himI over the distance It ruins ruins his timing and frequently causes a spill or at least several stan Man toppled hurdles 0 Decreasing ng the thc distance between hurdles by br two yards ards will ill enable the aye average rage high higl school man to skim over them in a more rhythmic style be because ause the race will wH then be more adaptable to a youngster at his growing growing growing grow grow- ing period of oJ life Incidentally the thc present height of 30 inches is recommended recommended rec rec- as satisfactory by the national body This policy of making the hurdle races a bit easier has bas also led national authorities to decide to reduce the level of the high hurdles at least for a trial A three-inch three re reduction re- re from froni from 42 to 39 inches inches is is recommended for the yard ard race S If the state association adopts these recommendations the high schools will wilt have to provide their own hurdle equipment for the high ev event nt whenever their state meets are held at one of the colleges inasmuch as the universities are m making king no changes in the specifications for their races College men it is felt are mature mature- enough for the races as the they have been held in iri the past The state slate board may well reconsider the present r rules IE s limiting jim lim jUng an individual to only four events in a meet Aimed to PJ prevent a star ar from being overworked this rule somewhat de defeats defeats defeats de- de feats its purpose by declaring that one of or the events must be bethe bethe the relay relar The intent of the rule was to keep an individual from comp competing com corn p ting in too tob many grinds on the track but no exception is made for the man who might have ability in two short track events and also in two field events say the javelin and the S S Surely either the javelin or discus would be he less wearIng wearing wear wear- Ing on the athletes athlete's heart than if he be required to forego a afield afield afield field event in lieu of a leg on the relay team The purpose of the rule could well weIl ell be enhanced b by modifying the provision pro pro- vision to permit four field events |